The Law of Chastity: A positive view

The Law of Chastity: A positive view

All to often as a youth I viewed the Law of Chastity as something restricting, hard to obey, and very uncomfortable to talk about. I would sometimes wonder “Why is it so strict? I mean, I understand why I shouldn’t be promiscuous, but what are the blessings? What is the purpose? WHY?!” My purpose in writing about the Law of Chastity today, is to help us view this law in an uplifting and positive way. When we understand WHY God gave us this commandment, how it is lived and what the associated blessings are– we can then begin to see clearly why this commandment is actually a blessing indeed, and our desire to do everything we can to live a Chaste life will increase dramatically. At least, this is what has happened in my life.

Simple Definition for reference: “The Lord’s standard regarding sexual purity is clear and unchanging. Do not have any sexual relations before marriage, and be completely faithful to your spouse after marriage.” –For the Strength of Youth

WHY God gave us the Law of Chastity

We must understand that we are CHILDREN of God, and that our bodies are literally temples of the Holy Ghost, so whenever we sin, no matter what it is, we separate ourselves from God a little more with each sin and it is only through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that our relationship can be fully restored. God wants to be close with us, this is part of the reason WHY he gave us this law.

– 1st Corinthians 6:18-20 “…he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Part of our test (and arguably the sole purpose of gaining a body) here on earth is to discipline all of our passions and to put off the natural man (Mosiah 3:19). Alma counseled his son Shiblon to “bridle all [of his] passions, that [he] may be filled with love” (Alma 38:12). Our love for the Lord and His commandments increase as we chose to obey with exactness.

What are the blessings?

Again, God desires to be close to us and he has promised the greatest blessing (at least it seems that way for me) for those who are pure and virtuous, ‘for they,’ said he, ‘shall see God’ (Matt. 5:8). I cannot think of a greater blessing or motivation to keep the Law of Chastity than that! Furthermore, we are promised that if we let “virtue garnish [our] thoughts unceasingly; then shall [our] confidence wax strong in the presence of God”(D&C 121:46). Wow! Do we really believe that? Think about it, if you want to see God, and feel confident in His presence, all you have to do is keep the Law of Chastity– it seems to me that God’s blessings far out weigh anything we feel we are ‘missing out on’ from our peers or social media.

Elder Bednar speaks further on this subject: “We also are promised that, as we pursue the pathway of virtue, “the Holy Ghost shall be [our] constant companion” . Thus, living the law of chastity invites some of the greatest blessings men and women can receive in mortality: appropriate spiritual confidence in the presence of family, friends, Church associates, and, ultimately, the Savior.”

“The doctrine I have described will seem to be archaic and outdated to many people in a world that increasingly mocks the sanctity of procreation and minimizes the worth of human life. But the Lord’s truth is not altered by fads, popularity, or public opinion polls. I promise that obedience to the law of chastity will increase our happiness in mortality and make possible our progress in eternity. Chastity and virtue are now, always have been, and always will be “most dear and precious above all things” (Moroni 9:9). I so testify in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.”

How can we stand Strong?

Elder Oaks gives this promise, “When you make it clear that you will not vary from your standards, you will be led to individuals like yourself and the criticism from others will become less intense. Often those who publicly deride you for your high standards privately do not want you to violate them. They need your good example.Whether it be turning your back on an off-color joke, refusing to see an R-rated movie or videocassette, or walking out of a party that is moving in the wrong direction, make your standards clear to others by quietly making the right choices when temptation is first presented. A decisive, correct choice made once and consistently kept thereafter will avoid much heartache. Your energy can then be used in keeping your resolve rather than repeatedly wrestling with the same challenge. Also, you will greatly reduce the possibility that you will be overcome by temptation.

You will have challenges and hard decisions to make throughout your life. But determine now to always do what is right and let the consequence follow. The consequence will always be for your best good. You will learn that it is easiest over the long run to stand for what is right and do the difficult thing to begin with. Once you take that position, following through is not too hard.An individual who cuts corners and justifies some departure from true standards for whatever reason finds that seeds are planted that produce problems later. Those problems are far more difficult to overcome than taking a correct stand initially.”–Elder Oaks

We know that our view of Chastity is not popular at all so the question is raised: How can I keep these standards when it seems like all odds are against me? Here is one more promise from the scriptures.

D&C 59:23 “…he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.”

My personal thoughts

With all good things– Satan tries to push them from our inner core (or values) out to our fantasies or sarcastic circle of our self. We can see how Satan is making an attack on the Sanctity of life by making murder and fornication a comical or sarcastic subject. He does this through video games, movies, memes, TV shows, books, pop-ups, and other media. We can see that our Heavenly Father is most concerned with how we come into this world and leave this world since are the greatest sins are murder and fornication which pervert and destroy God’s plan. (setting aside denying the Holy Ghost)

However, I hope this article can uplift our vision of WHY God gave us this blessing of the Law of Chastity. I testify with all my heart that the happiest times of my life have been when I have strictly obeyed the Law of Chastity in thought in word and in deed. I testify that this Law is a blessing– just like every commandment we are given. If we want to see our God, we just need to be clean! Stay on the Lord’s side–completely and you will find joy and positivity which you never have experienced before. Of these things I am certain of, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.